curb

play

noun \ ˈkərb \

Definition of curb

1 :a bit that exerts severe pressure on a horse's jaws; also :the chain or strap attached to it — see bit illustration

2 :an enclosing frame, border, or edging

3 :check, restraint

a price curb

government policies that are designed to put a curb on spending

4 :a raised edge or margin to strengthen or confine

5 :an edging (as of concrete) built along a street to form part of a gutter

They sat on the curb eating their ice cream.

[from the fact that it originally transacted its business on the street]

:a market for trading in securities not listed on a stock exchange

See curb defined for English-language learners

See curb defined for kids

Examples of curb in a Sentence

We sat on the curb eating our ice cream.
these international regulations act as a curb on the plundering of a nation's archaeological treasures

Recent Examples of curb from the Web

As Taylor herself has laid low as of late (that is, until last week’s album announcement and new single release), so we haven’t been given a new update on who’s still in the squad and who has been kicked to the curb—until now.

— avery matera, Teen Vogue, "Taylor Swift's Squad Shirt Doesn't Include Lorde, Karlie Kloss and Lena Dunham," 28 Aug. 2017
The bulk of the Vision Zero budget is being spent on those curb bump-outs and the like.

— susan carpenter, Los Angeles Magazine, "Inside The Audacious Plan to Eliminate Traffic Deaths in L.A.," 21 Aug. 2017
In 2015, my mother fell off a street curb and hit her head.

— kevinsampsell, Longreads, "Forever Yesterday: Peering Inside My Mom’s Fading Mind," 11 Aug. 2017
Police reported that John O’Neill Jr. was sitting on the northern curb of 3rd with his legs in the traffic lane, facing southeast.

— ruth brown, idahostatesman, "Nampa driver cited for hitting pedestrian, dragging the man," 27 July 2017
Rappaport explained that curb cuts are rarely well-maintained, and wheelchairs have trouble navigating potholes or construction along their routes.

— philip devoe, National Review, "Suing Uber Won’t Solve Disabled Americans’ Transportation Problems," 25 July 2017
A heavy-duty, hands-free kitchen bin minimizes odors and trips to the curb.

— martha stewart, star-telegram, "Keep clean and carry on with summertime living," 22 July 2017
Oil has traded below $50 a barrel since late May amid concerns rising global supply will offset curbs by the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries and its partners.

— heesu lee, Bloomberg.com, "Oil Holds Gain Near $47 After U.S. Stockpiles Extend Declines," 20 July 2017
The wooden sheet is necessary because a driver hopped the curb earlier this month and crashed into the front window of the business at 10701 S. Roberts Road in Palos Hills.

— bob bong, Daily Southtown, "Walgreens closing stores in Matteson, Richton Park," 18 July 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'curb.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of curb

Middle French courbe curve, curved piece of wood or iron, from courbe curved, from Latin curvus

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

See Words from the same year

curb Synonyms

Synonyms

check, circumscription, condition, constraint, restriction, fetter, limitation, restraint, stricture

Related Words

exception, proviso, qualification, reservation, stipulation, strings; ban, prohibition, proscription

Near Antonyms

freedom, latitude

Other Animal Husbandry Terms

apiary, bantam, calico, girth, hogwash, mast, rut

curb

verb

Definition of curb

transitive verb

1 :to furnish with a curb

2 :to check or control with or as if with a curb

trying to curb her curiosity

3 :to lead (a dog) to a suitable place (such as a gutter) for defecation

See curb defined for English-language learners

Examples of curb in a Sentence

The legislation is intended to curb price and wage increases.
pills designed to curb your appetite

Recent Examples of curb from the Web

Along with new sidewalks and decorative street lights, improvements will include barrier curb removal and driveway apron replacements to make the section compliant with the federal Americans with Disabilities Act, according to the city.

— mike nolan, Daily Southtown, "Cicero spruce-up underway in Oak Forest," 29 Aug. 2017
Simmons is one of the dozens of players in the Gary 4 Life basketball league, an anti-violence initiative established in 2014 aimed at curbing the city's high crime rates.

— javonte anderson, Post-Tribune, "Gary 4 Life basketball league courts anti-violence efforts," 22 Aug. 2017
Conservationists, more enlightened anglers and wildlife agencies tracking a rising tide of violations on social media hope the backlash can curb behavior that is easy to condemn — but difficult to prosecute.

— jenny staletovich, miamiherald, "Florida ‘Jackass’ anglers troll social media and the law struggles to catch them," 17 Aug. 2017
Pruitt, the former attorney general of Oklahoma, has repeatedly moved to kill or delay rules curbing pollution from the fossil-fuel operations since his appointment to lead EPA.

— michael biesecker, The Seattle Times, "Advocates oppose EPA’s delay of coal plant pollution limits," 31 July 2017
The policy did little to curb drug addiction, and ultimately served to benefit Mexican drug cartels and other outfits from the murky depths of the criminal underworld.

— jack holmes, Esquire, "Jeff Sessions Wants Your Weed (Among Other Things)," 24 July 2017
Some Democratic mayors in Republican states admitted the battle to curb guns was lost.

— The Economist, "How to run a cityForty mayors go back to school," 20 July 2017
Congressional Republicans in their health care reform bills and in a House budget proposal revealed this week have proposed changes that would curb future spending on Medicaid.

— audrey dutton and cynthia sewell, idahostatesman, "Obamacare repeal has faltered. But Congress still has big plans for your health care.," 20 July 2017
Reaching a deal to curb Iran’s nuclear program involved 20 months of negotiations between seven countries.

— margaret hartmann, Daily Intelligencer, "Trump Recertifies Iran Nuclear Deal After Arguing With His Own Advisers: Report," 18 July 2017

Origin and Etymology of curb

derivative of ¹curb

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1530

See Words from the same year

curb Synonyms

Synonyms

bridle, check, constrain, contain, control, govern, hold, inhibit, keep, measure, pull in, regulate, rein (in), restrain, rule, tame

Antonyms

lose

Related Words

bottle (up), choke (back), hold back, mince, muffle, pocket, repress, sink, smother, squelch, stifle, strangle, suppress, swallow; arrest, interrupt, stop; block, hamper, handcuff, hinder, impede, obstruct; gag, muzzle, silence

Near Antonyms

liberate, loose, loosen, unleash; air, express, take out, vent

Synonym Discussion of curb

restrain, check, curb, bridle mean to hold back from or control in doing something. restrain suggests holding back by force or persuasion from acting or from going to extremes.

- restrained themselves from laughing

check implies restraining or impeding a progress, activity, or impetus.

- trying to check government spending

curb suggests an abrupt or drastic checking.

- learn to curb your appetite

bridle implies keeping under control by subduing or holding in.

- bridle an impulse to throw the book down

CURB Defined for English Language Learners

curb

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noun

Definition of curb for English Language Learners

: a short border along the edge of a street that is usually made of stone or concrete
: something that controls or limits something else

curb

verb

Definition of curb for English Language Learners

: to control or limit (something)

CURB Defined for Kids

curb

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noun \ ˈkərb \

Definition of curb for Students

1 :an enclosing border (as of stone or concrete) often along the edge of a street

2 :¹check 2

a curb on rising prices

curb

verb

Definition of curb for Students

curbed; curbing

:to control or limit

curb spending

This will curb your appetite.

Medical Dictionary

curb

play

noun \ ˈkərb \

medical Definition of curb

:a swelling on the back of the hind leg of a horse just behind the lowest part of the hock joint that is due to strain or rupture of the ligament and generally causes lameness